Burnkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Leopardsun sat at the base of the Jaggedrock, looking around the bustling mostly-rebuilt ShadowClan camp with a sense of pride. They had come so far since their return, and now another step forward into a brighter future was due. As she spoke, her voice carried over the hollow. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!"

Snowfoot stepped out of the nursery, chest swelling with pride. She’d just finished grooming Burnkit for his ceremony, and she couldn’t wait for him to join his brother in training. They were growing up so fast!

Lightpaw was also in camp, having been tipped off by Snowfoot to hang around. She poked her head into the nursery. “Cmon little bro, don’t miss this!”

Burnkit was relieved when Snowfoot had finished licking his fur. He just wanted to become an apprentice. He had waited too long in his opinion. Who will be my mentor Burnkit wondered. He walked towards the Jaggedrock trying to contain his excitement. The previous days revelation that Snowfoot wasn't his birth mom came back into his mind. The sadness of not ever being able to meet the mother that gave birth to him momentarily flashing in his face. He quickly replaced his expression into one of excitement hoping nobody noticed.

Sablepaw hadn't planned on attending this ceremony, but a tip-off from Snowfoot had changed his plans. He sat a respectable distance from his brother, giving him an encouraging nod. It had taken way too long for this day to arrive, but now that it had he couldn't help becoming excited. Though it was gone almost immediately, Sablepaw had noticed the brief look of sadness. He would have to confront Burnkit later, now wasn't the time.

As more of ShadowClan gathered, Leopardsun's voice rang out over the hollow once more. "Cats of ShadowClan! I have called you here today to witness the naming of a new apprentice. Burnkit, please step forward."

The loss of her immediate kin still weighed heavily on her, but seeing Snowfoot groom her kit's fur and Sablepaw gathered for his brother's ceremony was the sort of thing that filled her with hope for the future. "Burnkit. You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice of ShadowClan. From this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Burnpaw. Snowfoot will be your mentor- I trust that she will pass all she knows on to you."

It felt wrong, in some small way, to be entrusting Snowfoot with an apprentice- but in another, it felt like a necessary step forward.

Snowfoot wasn’t expecting what came next. She was to mentor her own son? Well, that was a surprise! The she-cat stepped forward to touch noses with her son, heart fluttering in her chest. In a way, this cemented a fact she’d tried not to believe. Vixenpaw was well and truly gone.

“Nice to meet you, new-apprentice-I-definitely-don’t-know,” Snowfoot joked. “We start training at dusk tomorrow night. Lightpaw, Sablepaw, please help your brother get settled in the apprentice den.”

“Absolutely!” Lightpaw chirped, fluffy white tail held high. “Congratulations, Burnpaw!”